Young woman with a questioning expression against a pink background with text that reads, Got Questions? about the Bible and how it applies to your life.

Do You Have a Life-Application Question about the Bible?

September 16, 2019 Posted by Donna Reidland Biblical Counseling

Do you have a question about how the Bible applies to your life or why it’s even relevant today? Or would you like to know more about biblical counseling and how you can get personal help?

Life Application Questions

Does the Bible seem like a dusty old book with little relevance to your life? You might be surprised to know the people in the Bible were much like you and me with the same struggles, doubts, and concerns.

If you would like to know more, I will do my best to answer those questions that are appropriate to answer in this format and as time and space allow.

Do you have a life application question about the Bible? #bible #soulsurvival

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What is Biblical Counseling?

Biblical counselors believe in the sufficiency of God’s Word to handle the issues of life (2 Pet. 1:3-4). We follow the Bible’s description of man as a fallen creature living in a fallen world. And we realize the solution for living in this world is found in God’s Word. Our goal is to point others to the Scriptures that deal directly with the issues they are facing.

We understand from 2 Timothy 3.16-17 that the Bible shows us where we are (in our thoughts, words, actions and attitudes) and where we may need God’s help. It, also, shows us where the Bible says we should be and how we should respond to the tests and trials of life. Most importantly, it shows us how to get there.

Certified biblical counselors receive their training through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). ACBC is a national organization committed to the quality of counseling offered by its members.

What is biblical counseling? #biblicalcounseling #soulsurvival

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If you would like to find a Certified Biblical Counselor in your area, you can visit the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors website. Many counsel free of charge.

To find out more about ACBC, you can click here. They offer an abundance of training opportunities and other resources.

I sometimes link up with these other blogs.

About Donna Reidland

Donna is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, and Biblical counselor. She has been blogging through the Bible each year since 2012. She loves God's Word and sharing how freeing and practical it is. She is certified through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.

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14 Comments

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Donna Reidland
· Reply

Author

September 19, 2019 at 8:05 AM

A reader & friend recently asked this question. It’s such a good one and something with which many people struggle. So, I’m posting it here:

Hi,
I’ve commented a couple of times in the past and I deeply respect your wisdom and intuition. Your daily devotions have had a tremendous influence on my wife and my lives. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you speak only Truth.
To try to tell you my testimony or past would take way too long, however, today you mentioned something that has prompted me to ask you a question.
I am 100% a believer in Christ and have been for many years. But being a believer didn’t stop the drug use or the Smoking.
I never was a drinker. (Not sure why). But drugs were very much part of my life.
I’ve been clean from drugs for a number of years, but I’ve never been able to quit smoking. I go back and forth from smoking to vaping. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, “Just Pray and God will take the Addiction away” or “You’ve got to Try Harder”.
Needless to say, the guilt can be overwhelming sometimes, but I do know that Christ knows my heart and He knows I deeply love Him. I quit the drugs because they were grieving the Holy Spirit.
Anyway, the main reason for my question is that you said something today that I’ve never heard before. You said, “A Spirit of Nicotine”. I deepest desire is to stop smoking, but I’ve never been able to lay them down. Yes, there is shame and guilt. And it does affect my witness.
What did you mean when you said, “A Spirit of Nicotine”?
Thank You for your time in reading this comment.
(I also wanted to Thank You and Your Husband for praying for me some time ago)
Sincerely Yours
Philip W.
- Donna Reidland
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 19, 2019 at 8:07 AM
  
  Here is my answer:
  
  Philip, we are always happy to pray and appreciate your comments.
  
  When I mentioned “a spirit of nicotine,” etc., I didn’t mean that is something we should be concerned about. Perhaps, I didn’t state that very clearly. There are people who believe such “spirits” can control even a believer in Christ. But if the Holy Spirit indwells us (and He does all believers in Christ), evil spirits cannot live there, too.
  
  But you’re right when you say that sometimes God does not simply remove the desire to smoke or drink or use drugs or whatever. The Christian life does require change on our part. But it’s God-empowered change not just our own self-effort. If you read Eph. 4.22-24 you’ll see a process where we are told to put-off old man behaviors and put-on the habits of the new man. The Apostle Paul follows with several examples in the rest of that chapter. We’re to put-off lying and put-on truth, put-off stealing and put-on working and being generous, put-off unwholesome speech and put on speaking in ways that will build others up, etc. So we don’t just stop the old habit, we must replace it with a new God-honoring one.
  
  When it comes to a habit like smoking, we can go to Eph. 5.18 where it says, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” Even though he uses wine as the example, it applies to many things like drugs, smoking, over-spending, anything that has the potential to control us. Instead of putting ourselves under the control of those things, we want to place ourself more firmly under the control of the Holy Spirit.
  
  With long-standing habits like smoking, you might sit down and make a plan. Look at the times and places where you are most inclined to smoke. What can you do instead at those times? Perhaps, read a few verses in Proverbs, go over verses that you would like to memorize, listen to Christian music, etc. Or you might go do the dishes for your wife with a desire to please God and be an even better husband. Or you could take a prayer walk alone or with your wife. Anything that takes the focus off what your flesh wants and onto something that God wants.
  
  It may take some time, although probably less than you think, but if you do this consistently, doing the God-honoring thing can become your new habit.
  
  You might also consider getting a booked called The Heart of Addiction: A Biblical Perspective by Mark Shaw. My husband uses it a lot in counseling addictions.
  
  I hope that helps.
  
  Blessings,
  Donna
Michele Morin
· Reply

September 19, 2019 at 10:02 AM

Hi, Donna, this is a new thing for me and maybe VERY basic to bring to the table, but I’m wondering how to respond to someone who is angry at her spouse. She’s committed to staying in the marriage, but finds nothing in his character or behavior that is winsome–or even positive.
There’s no “look at the bright side” here, and our contact is very limited, but she has come to me for help.
- Donna Reidland
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 19, 2019 at 3:44 PM
  
  It’s actually a great question, Michele. Your friend’s situation is far more common than you might think. Although, most people would, probably, be less than honest about it.
  
  I would talk to her about love for God and love for others being the 2 great commandments (Matt. 22.37-40). Really basic but I would start there. I would share how Titus 2 tells older women to teach the younger women to love their husbands (so we must do the same). Then I would go to Matthew 5.43-48 and point out that Jesus told us we are even to love our enemies. So wherever she views her husband on that scale, she’s commanded to love him.
  
  I would also explain to her that biblical love is not primarily a feeling, it’s a commitment that we made before God (whether we understood that at the time or not). We can keep a commitment even when we don’t feel it. Of course, we want her feelings to change and they most likely will if she begins to obey God out of a desire to please Him (2 Cor. 5.9).
  
  Then you might go to 1 Corinthians 13.4-7 and talk about the things love does. It’s kind, patient, not selfish, etc. We can do many of those things for perfect strangers, again in spite of our feelings.
  
  I may or may not cover all of this in one discussion but I would spend some time in 1 Peter 3.1-2 and Romans 12.14, 17-21 and talk to her about overcoming evil with good. I would explain from 1 Peter 3.1-2 that the greatest opportunity she has to help her husband change and grow is by her godly behavior.
  
  Finally, if she continues to resist what God says and yet claims to love God, I would look at John 14.15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” And 1 John 2:
  
  3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
  
  9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
  
  If a person refuses to obey God over a period of time in spite of knowing the truth, the most loving thing we can do is challenge her on her salvation. We must do it gently and without saying we know anyone’s heart but her eternity could be at stake. It’s a matter of discernment when that time might be.
  
  I hope that helps,
  Donna
- Heather
  · Reply
  
  October 25, 2019 at 12:22 PM
  
  Donna gave a great answer. May I suggest one more: Tell her to be honest with God, to admit to God that she can’t love her husband right now or stop being angry with him, but that she’s trusting God to love her husband through her and to help her love him and stop being angry with him. She should pray this regularly and then go out and live like it’s true, like God will answer that prayer. Just a suggestion.
  - Donna Reidland
    · Reply
    
    Author
    
    October 25, 2019 at 4:36 PM
    
    That’s a great prayer, Heather! Thanks for sharing.
Tammy Mashburn
· Reply

September 26, 2019 at 7:29 AM

Hey Donna! We’re neighbors at Crystal’s place today! Excited to have found you!
- Donna Reidland
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 26, 2019 at 8:08 AM
  
  Tammy, so glad you did. I hope you’ll come back soon! 🙂
Lauren Renee Sparks
· Reply

September 26, 2019 at 7:57 AM

I recently took an intro to biblical counseling course and the curriculum was so good I felt like it should be required reading for every church member! laurensparks.net
- Donna Reidland
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 26, 2019 at 8:07 AM
  
  I agree. It is so helpful in all our one-anothering! Who taught it?
Carol
· Reply

October 21, 2019 at 10:41 AM

I have a Question. If you remain addicted to a sin, will God forgive you once you have overcome it thru the Holy Spirit?
- Donna Reidland
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  October 21, 2019 at 3:18 PM
  
  I believe anytime we come to God in genuine repentance, God forgives us (1 Jn. 1.9). We may continue to struggle, even fall, with certain sins and that may bring consequences as part of God’s loving discipline (Heb. 12.5-11). But genuine believers will repent and have been set free from the power of sin (1 Cor. 6.9-11). Notice verse 11 which says, “such were some of you,” past tense. So, we definitely can be free from habitual sin. I read something recently but, sadly, I can’t remember where I read it. The statement was this, “Confession and repentance is the way out.” Repentance is more than just feeling bad or regretting the consequences. It’s genuine brokenness over our sin, all of which is first against God. We all need to pray for God to give us that kind of repentance. But genuine repentance, also, involves a change in our thinking so we want to be renewing our minds by meditating on appropriate passages like 2 Corinthians 5.9, 15 and 1 Corinthians 6.9-11. I hope that helps, Carol. Blessings!
Jen
· Reply

January 27, 2020 at 11:46 AM

The sermon at my church 2 weeks was about this very same thing! I had never thought about it before, and the sermon posed a lot of good points on how and why the Bible is still relevant and should still resonate with today’s society. Thank you for reminding me that I need to keep reflecting on that sermon and think about how it relates to me and my family.
- Donna Reidland
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  January 28, 2020 at 8:25 AM
  
  We all need to remind ourselves of that regularly, don’t we! Glad you stopped by today, Jen.